Two MIT economists have come out with a big, bold plan for reviving US economic growth. Done right, it just might work. Slowing growth creates a lot of problems. It engenders despair by making people less likely to be richer than their parents. It might exacerbate wealth inequality. It creates a zero-sum world where people must fight over a smaller ...
Read More »Federal Reserve, ECB bending to markets
Fearing market disruptions, both the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Federal Reserve will most likely take more stimulus measures this month regardless of what their analyses tell them about the potential impact on the economy and financial assets. That has implications for both future economic prosperity and medium-term financial stability, and it adds to the to-do list for policy makers ...
Read More »Populist risk shown in Australia-Argentina economic split
Looking at the way major economies in recent years have managed to combine chaotic politics with decent growth, it’s tempting to wonder whether we’re all making too much fuss about the behavior of the people in power. In the US, President Donald Trump has joked about becoming president for life, toyed with overturning the constitution by executive fiat, and used ...
Read More »US stock futures advance amid bets on latest easing
Bloomberg US stock-index futures climbed with equities in Asia as traders weighed a series of fresh stimulus moves expected from the world’s central banks. Shares fluctuated in Europe, where bonds slipped alongside Treasuries. Contracts on the three main US stock gauges advanced after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell gave his last speech before the next policy meeting and cemented views ...
Read More »China’s A-H share gap widens over growth optimism
Bloomberg Mainland Chinese stocks are outperforming their offshore-listed peers as domestic investors bet the country’s economy will withstand the trade war with the US. The Shanghai Composite Index has rallied more than 21 percent this year, compared with a 4.3 percent advance by the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index in Hong Kong. The Shanghai measure is trading near its highest ...
Read More »British Airways two-day pilot strike grounds nearly all flights
Bloomberg British Airways scrapped almost all of its timetable for the next two days as pilots went on strike for the first time in decades in a labour dispute that could cost the carrier 80 million pounds ($98 million). The unit of IAG SA had “no option†but to cancel almost 100 percent of services amid the action over pay, ...
Read More »Typhoon strands 5,000 passengers at Narita airport
Bloomberg More than 5,000 passengers are stranded at Japan’s Narita international airport as highways were closed off and train services were suspended after a powerful typhoon hit the nation’s capital. That number was expected to rise until the last flight arrived at about 11 pm, with no notice so far from the rail and highway operators on when services and ...
Read More »Air France-KLM shares drop on disappointing summer bookings
Bloomberg Air France-KLM shares dropped the most in six months after the Franco-Dutch carrier said last-minute demand in the crucial summer season has been disappointing. “Close-in bookings in the peak travel period are weaker than foreseen in view of softening macro-economic environment,†the Paris-based airline said in a statement on its August figures on Monday. The shares fell as much ...
Read More »CDU leader says flight tax could help climate push
Bloomberg The head of Germany’s ruling Christian Democrats suggested a levy on flights could be introduced to encourage travellers to use less polluting means of transport and help tackle climate change. Rail travel must be made cheaper, possibly by cutting sales tax on train tickets, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party, said in an interview with ARD ...
Read More »Cargo door explosion ends Boeing 777X tests
Bloomberg Boeing Co suspended testing of its 777X aircraft after a cargo door failed in a ground stress test, Reuters reported, citing a statement from a company spokesman. “During final load testing on the 777X static test airplane, the team encountered an issue that required suspension of the test,†Reuters quoted the spokesman as saying. The setback occurred last week, ...
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